Systems and Methods for Communication Between Devices and Remote Systems with a Power Cord

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for remote control of an electronic device using a power cord are disclosed. A power cord that provides electric power to the device includes a module configured to receive wireless control signals originating from and/or transmit wireless signals to a remote device. The power cord includes one or more control wires for communicating signals between the module and the device. The module may be configured to translate information or signals received from the communications protocol of the remote device to the communications protocol of the device, and vice versa. The control wire(s) may extend along or within the power cord. Methods for wirelessly controlling a device comprise transmitting a command from a remote device to a module connected to the device&#39;s power cord, the module wirelessly receiving the command and transmitting the command to the appliance via control wires extending from the module to the device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/999,557, filed Jul. 31, 2014,which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made apart hereof.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to communication between remotesystems and electrical devices, for example, appliances. Morespecifically, the present disclosure relates to a system and method forcommunication between electrical devices and remote systems via aninterface that is located within a power cord of the device.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Contemporary electrical devices have been equipped with sophisticatedcontrol systems that govern the operation of the device. Exemplary suchdevices include machinery and appliances, such as refrigerators, ranges,dishwashers, laundry machines, air conditioners, fans, and microwaveovens. These devices often have control panels, which may have buttons,dials, touch controls (e.g., touchscreen), and other input/outputdevices, that enable users to set the desired operation of the deviceand receive information about the operation, status or condition of thedevice. In the case of an appliance, for example, this can includeinformation such as temperature or remaining time to complete anoperation. Inside the device, these panels are connected via variousmethods, such as via a communications bus, to microcomputers thatcontrol the device. Typically, a set of one or more wires connects thecontrol panel to the microcomputer.

Typically, operation of these control panels requires physical presenceof the user at the device. In many cases, though, remote operation ofthe device would be desirable. For example, remote operation of alaundry machine would enable a user to remotely check the remaining timefor clothes to wash or dry. Remote operation of an air conditioner wouldenable a user to start the air conditioner before returning home.

Such remote operation can be effected in various ways. One methodinvolves some form of radio communication to devices that haveconnectivity to the public internet. This radio communication caninclude WiFi connection to a home router, Bluetooth® connection toanother Bluetooth device that has internet connectivity, or a cellularor other connection. This radio communication requires use of a radiotransceiver to transmit commands between a user and an appliance. Thedevice may include within it a radio transceiver for this purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventors have concluded that current implementation of radiocommunication to and from devices has limitations and problems. First,locating the transceiver within the device requires extra space orinternal redesign of the device. This redesign requirement rendersretrofitting of device to include a radio transceiver prohibitivelyexpensive. Second, the device itself can interfere with the operation ofthe transceiver. For example, the device itself can generate radiosignals that cause interference; metal or other panels, housings andcomponents of the device can block radio waves; and the device cangenerate environmental influences, such as high or low temperature,vibration, etc., that can affect the transceiver's performance. Problemslike these have limited deployment of internet-connected devices.

In view of the above, the inventors have determined that there is a needfor systems and methods for connecting electric devices, such asappliances, for remote control with reduced redesign requirements.

The present disclosure relates to systems for remote communication withdevices, such as appliances, using a module connected to the device'spower cord. In one embodiment, a system comprises a power cord equippedwith a module having a microprocessor, a transceiver, and an interfacewith one or more control wires. The module may be placed within a plugenclosure that is connectable to a power source such as an electricaloutlet or inline along the power cord. The transceiver is configured totransmit information or commands between a remote device and amicroprocessor within the module. The microprocessor translatesinformation and commands from the communications protocol of the remotedevice to the communications protocol of the device, and vice versa.Control wires extend from the module along or within the power cord, andare operatively connected to the device's control system, e.g.,microcomputer. The microprocessor is configured to transmit controlsignals and/or receive information or feedback from the device'smicrocomputer using the communications protocol of the device.

The present disclosure also relates to methods for remotelycommunicating with an electric device, such as an appliance, using amodule connected to the device's power cord. In one embodiment, a usertransmits commands wirelessly from a remote device to a device via amodule attached to a power cord. The module may be placed within a plugor inline along a power cord, and it has a microprocessor, atransceiver, and an interface with one or more control wires. Thecontrol wires extend from the module along or within the power cord, andtransmit the command(s) the module received from the remote device tothe device using the device's communications protocol. In embodimentswhere the device generates information or feedback, e.g., temperature,time elapsed, or time remaining, and transmits that to the module viathe control wires, the module may transmit that information back to theuser's remote device via the module's wireless connection, so that theuser may monitor the device using the user's remote device.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in view of the following detailed description of embodimentsand the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that those having ordinary skill in the art to which the presentdisclosure pertains will more readily understand how to make and use theinvention, reference may be had to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a device and power cord.

FIG. 2A illustrates a power plug and power cord containing a radiomodule within the plug.

FIG. 2B illustrates a module contained with the power plug illustratedin FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A illustrates a power plug and power cord containing a radiomodule within the power cord.

FIG. 3B illustrates a module contained with the power plug illustratedin FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of internal components of the module andpower cord illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a system wherein a device and aremote device communicate via a power cord.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a control loop between a remote device,a radio module, and a device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a device 2, which is illustrated as a microwaveoven, has a control panel 6 for manual input of controls and/oroperation of the device by a user. Although, the device shown is amicrowave oven, the present invention can be used in connection with anydevice currently known or that will become known in the future that hasan electronic control system, including machinery, a refrigerator,freezer, range, induction stove, oven, fan, computer, television, airconditioner, humidifier, washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, lightingdevice, lamp, coffee machine, or food processor. Further, though acontrol panel 6 is shown, the device 2 may have any other control systemfor actuation by a user.

The control panel may have buttons, knobs, dials, touchscreens,displays, lights, indicators, and/or other input/output devices thatenable users to set the desired operations and receive information aboutthe operation, status or condition of the device 2. This may include,for example, temperature or remaining time to complete an operation. Thecontrol panel 6 or other control system may be connected via acommunications bus to a microcomputer that controls the device 2.

The device 2 receives electrical power via power cord 4 connected at oneend to the device 2. At an opposite end of the power cord, the powercord has a plug assembly 9 with a plug terminal or prong arrangement 8that protrudes from plug assembly 9 and is adapted to plug into orelectrically connect with a power source, e.g., an electrical outlet, ina known manner. It should be understood by those of ordinary skill inthe art, however, that an electrical connection other than terminals orprongs may be used to connect to a power source. Any suitable connectionto the power source may be utilized.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a control module 10 isembedded or contained within the plug assembly 9. Components of module10 include a transceiver 14, a microprocessor 16, and a power converter(not shown in FIG. 2B). Control wires 12 extend from module 10 to thedevice's control system through the power cord 4. Accordingly, in suchembodiments, both the electrical power lines to device 2 and the controlwires 12 are compactly contained within the power cord 4. To a user, thepower cord 4 may appear no different from a typical power cord. Inaddition, as may be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the pertinentart based on the teachings herein, any of numerous other internalcomponents currently known, or that later become known, necessary forthe integration and proper functioning of the aforementioned internalcomponents may be included within the module.

Transceiver 14 may comprise a radio transmitter and an antenna, or anyother suitable device for transmitting and receiving radio or wirelesssignals as should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art.The antenna may consist of a PCB antenna, a chip antenna, an integratedantenna in the radio IC/module, or any other antenna configured forwireless transmission known to those of skill in the art or later becomeknown. In addition, the transceiver 14 may communicate wirelessly withthe remote device using any method of wireless communication that iscurrently known or may later become known, including but not limited toR-F communication, infrared communication, Bluetooth communication,Bluetooth low energy (BLE), cellular, and Wi-Fi communication.

Microprocessor 16 may include a software storage device and a CPU. Thestorage device may comprise any suitable, computer-readable storagemedium such as disk, non-volatile memory, etc., as will be understood bythose of ordinary skill in the art (e.g., read-only memory (ROM),erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically-erasable programmableROM (EEPROM), flash memory, field-programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.).Software embedded on the storage device may be embodied ascomputer-readable program code and executed by the CPU using anysuitable high or low level computing language as would be understood bythose of ordinary skill in the art, such as, but not limited to, Python,Java, C, C++, C #, .NET, MATLAB, etc. The CPU may include any suitablesingle- or multiple-core microprocessor 16 of any suitable architecturethat is capable of implementing and running a control protocol for thedevice 2 (e.g., Intel processor). That is, the microprocessor 16 isconfigured to generate and send signals to the device 2, in accordancewith software contained in the computer-readable storage medium of themodule 10, so that the device 2 can receive signals from the module 10and implement to operate the device 2.

A power converter (not shown in FIG. 2B) is electrically connected toelectrical power wires (not shown in FIG. 2B) within the power cord thatreceive electrical power from an electric power source, e.g., electricalprongs 8 that are electrically connected to the power source, such as anoutlet. The power converter converts voltage from the power line into avoltage that is suitable for use by module 10. This includes the powerused to operate the components of the module 10 itself, but also togenerate signals for transmission to the device 2 along the controllines 12, and radio/wireless signals for communication with the user'sremote device.

The microprocessor communicates with the microcomputer of the device 2via the control wires 12. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B, theplurality of control wires 12 are embedded within the power cord 4alongside the power lines (not shown in FIG. 2A) that provide electricalpower to the device. In such embodiments the physical appearance orenvelope of the power cord is not affected, as the system is fullyembedded inside the device's power cord. In other embodiments, thecontrol wires 12 operatively connect to the device 2 separately from thepower cord 4.

In the embodiments shown, two control wires 12 are depicted. However, asshould be realized by one of skill in the art, the system may containany suitable number of wires, e.g., one wire for bi-directionalcommunication between the module and the device, or additional wires,such as four, six, eight, or more, according to the requirements of thecommunications bus of the device. For example, a USB connectiontypically comprises four wires. When the device's control panelcommunicates with its microcomputer via a USB connection with fourwires, the plurality of control wires 12 may likewise comprise a USBconnection with four wires. As one of ordinary skill in the art mayappreciate, the communication link between the module 10 and device 2may be of any suitable configuration, e.g., USB, serial, parallel,optical (e.g., fiber optic), etc.

The control wires 12 are operatively connected to the device'scommunications bus, either directly or indirectly. The communicationsbus then transmits commands and information between the control wiresand the device's microcomputer (e.g., from/to the module 10). In thismanner, the device 2 responds to signals from control wires 12 (whichare from the module 10) essentially the same way as it would to signalsfrom the device's control panel 6 manually entered from a user.

An advantage of the invention over previously-known devices is that, dueto the relatively easy installation and connection of the control wiresto the device, i.e., they operatively connect to/through the device'scommunications bus, only limited modification to the device need bemade. For example, the device does not have to be configured orre-configured to incorporate a wireless device. Moreover, thedisadvantages discussed above with integrated wireless control devicesare effectively avoided. In addition, the cost of providing the powercord is much less than integrating the wireless unit into the deviceitself. On this point, the power cords can be standardized for use withmany different types of device, providing high cost efficiency. This isin contrast to the previously-known devices, where each device wouldneed to be configured separately.

A further advantage of this embodiment is that the device can operateusing the same control protocol with which it was initially programmed.As discussed above, the microprocessor 16 may be programmed tocommunicate with the device's microcomputer using the communicationsprotocol of the device. The microprocessor 16 may be additionallyprogrammed to translate information from the communications protocolused by the device to the communications protocol used by a remotedevice. This permits, for example, not only transmitting commands to thedevice, but receiving information, feedback or status information fromthe appliance and communicating that to the remote device. It should beunderstood that, depending on the degree of variation among devices, itmay be necessary to program the microprocessor 16 with a unique programfor each device model, or each category of device, that is to beremotely connected or accessed using the module. However, as the samehardware, i.e., the power cord, may be used for multiple devices, thisinvolves relatively low cost software programming, not hardwaremodification of the device itself.

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4, a module 110, whichmay be structurally and/or functionally similar to module 10, is placedinline along a portion of power cord 4. Module 110 may comprise the sameinternal components as the module 10 of the embodiment of FIGS. 2A, and2B, including power wires 112, transceiver 114, microprocessor 116, andpower converter 118 (not shown in FIG. 3B). As noted above, the primarydifference between the embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B and the embodimentof FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4 is the location of the module 110 being inlinealong the power cord 104, rather than embedded within the plug assembly109. Further to this difference, module 110 is encased in sleeve orhousing 111 that extends around the portion of power cord 104 to whichmodule 110 is operatively connected. The inline module 110 is shown inFIG. 3A located near the plug assembly of the power cord. This placementprovides distance between the transceiver module 110 from any radio andenvironmental interferences from the device itself. However, the module110 may be placed at any suitable location along the power cord 104.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating internal components of module110, according to one embodiment. Power cord 104 extends in direction“A” toward power plug assembly 109 (not shown in FIG. 4), to which it iselectrically connected, and contains power wires 124. Power converter118 is electrically connected to power wires 124 and converts the linevoltage into voltage suitable for operation of the transceiver 114 andmicroprocessor 116, as discussed above. The microprocessor isoperatively connected to wired control interface 120, which is in turnoperatively attached to control wires 112. Sleeve or housing 111 extendsaround module 110. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the controlwires 112 are encased within power cord 104 alongside power wires 124,and the power cord 104 extends in direction “B” from module 110 towarddevice 2 (not shown in FIG. 4). In an alternative embodiment, thecontrol wires 112 may extend to the device in a separate cord. As wouldbe understood by one of skill in the art, the schematic relationship ofthe elements of the module 110 shown in FIG. 4 may be applicable in allpertinent respects to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, exceptthat in that embodiment the plug assembly 9 encases the module 10instead of a sleeve or housing 111 on the power cord 104.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a system for communication between adevice 2 and a remote device 30. In this illustrated embodiment, theremote device 30 includes a computer program, e.g., an application, forinterface between the user and the system to communicate with the device2. An exemplary application on the remote device 30 may display, forexample, a graphical user interface 32 that simulates the device controlpanel. The remote device 30 used to control the device 2 may be anysuitable computerized device, e.g., a smart phone, a tablet, a mobilecomputer, a desktop computer, etc. The remote device 30 is operativelyconnected to the device 2 through a communication path. In theillustrated embodiment, this path includes an internet service provider(represented by communication lines 36), public Internet (represented bycloud 40), an internet service provider (represented by communicationlines 50), which may be the same or different than internet serviceprovider 36, an access point for the module 10 of the power cord 4(represented by radio beacon 60), the radio transceiver module 10 which,in this embodiment, is located inside the plug assembly 9, andadditional control wires 12 inside the cable 4. The user can now accessall or some of the functions of the device control panel 6 from theremote location.

It should be understood that the communication between the remote device30 and the cloud 40, and between the cloud 40 and the access point 60may occur over any known or later known communication system. Thisincludes, but is not limited to, wired systems, wireless systems,cellular systems, Ethernet systems, etc. It should also be understoodthat, though in the embodiment of FIG. 5 the user interface 32 has asimilar form as the control panel 6 on the device, the interface 32 maytake any suitable form that allows a user to input control instructionsinto the interface 32 to control the device 2, and/or perceiveinformation transmitted from the device 2 to the remote device 30. Itshould also be understood that, though the interface 32 in theembodiment shown in FIG. 5 is in the form of a graphical/visualinterface, the interface 32 may take any suitable form. For example, inalternative or additionally to graphical/visual elements, the interface32 may include audio and/or tactile (e.g., vibration, movement, etc.)elements. The interface 32 may also include motion or gesturingdetection, such that, for example, the interface 32 may recognizegestures or movement of the user representing control instructions ofthe user. As one such example, if the control panel 6 contained a dialfor controlling operation of the device 2, the interface 32 could beprogrammed to recognize a motion of the user representing the virtualturning of a dial. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understandhow to create or program the interface 32 to achieve the desired controland display features of the interface 32.

An exemplary method of using the system illustrated in FIG. 5 is asfollows. For example, to transfer a command from the remote device 30 toa device 2, which in the illustrated embodiment is an appliance, e.g., amicrowave oven, a user inputs a command onto the remote device 30 viathe interface 32. This command may then be transferred to thetransceiver 16. In the illustrated embodiment, this is done via a seriesof intermediate way points, including the cloud 40, one or more internetservice providers 36, 50, and the access point 60. The access point 60then transmits the command to the transceiver 16 within module 10, forexample, by radio communication. This command is further transmittedalong control wires 12 to device 2 by the module 10 in accordance withits programming. Information may be transferred back from the device 2to the remote interface 32 along the same communications path, in theopposite direction.

It should be noted, though, that the communication path between thedevice 2 and the remote device 30 may be any type of known or laterknown communication system or combination of systems. For example, theremote device 30 and the module 10 may communicate directly with eachother. One protocol to accomplish this includes Bluetooth or BLEcommunication between the two, in embodiments where the module 10 andthe remote device 30 are so equipped. In other embodiments, the remotedevice 30 and the module 10 may communicate through a network at thelocation of the device 2 and the remote device 30, for example, a Wi-Finetwork. In such embodiments, the public internet need not be utilized,though in other embodiments the cloud 40 may be used in thecommunication path even if the device 2 and the remote device 30 arelocated within the same local network. Such embodiments permit, forexample, remote (cloud) storage of the commands and informationtransmitted between the device 2 and the remote device 30, which maythen, in various embodiments, be later retrieved, e.g., by the remotedevice 30 or another computing device.

It should also be understood that while the embodiment shown in FIG. 5depicts one device 2 and one remote device 30, the system may includemultiple devices and multiple remote devices that may communicate witheach other. As one example, the remote device 30 may control and receiveinformation about multiple devices, which may be the same or differentfrom each other. As another example, one or more devices may becontrolled by and/or send information to multiple remote devices.

FIG. 6 schematically depicts a control/feedback loop between a remotedevice 30, a module 10, and a device 2. Module 10 mediates betweenwireless communication position 200 of the loop including remote device30 and the wired communication position 300 of the loop including device2. In one embodiment of a control loop, a user may enter at step 210 acommand on a remote device 30. The remote device 30 transmits at step220 the command directly or indirectly to the module 10, using asuitable form of wireless communication, as discussed above. Themicroprocessor of module 10 translates, if necessary, at step 410 thecommand received from remote device 30 into a communications protocolunderstood by device 2. Module 10 then transmits at step 310 the commandvia wired communication to device 2. Device 2 at step 320 executes thecommand. Device 2 may at step 330 generate information, e.g., followingexecution of the command. Alternatively, the device 2 may generate andtransmit information without relation to a command signal received fromthe module 10. Device 2 transmits this information at step 340 usingwired communication to module 10. The microprocessor of module 10 ifnecessary translates at step 420 this information to a protocolunderstood by the remote device 30. Module 10 then transmits at step 230the information using wireless communication to the remote device 30.The remote device 30 then displays at step 240 the information to auser. The user may then respond to the information by transmittinganother command to the device. As can be appreciated, while FIG. 6depicts steps 210, 220, 410, 310, 320, 330, 340, 420, 230, and 240 asoccurring in a control or feedback loop, each step or series of stepscan be performed without necessarily being preceded or followed byperformance of the other steps. For example, the device may transmitinformation to the user without being prompted by a user command.

While the above describes certain embodiments, those skilled in the artshould understand that the foregoing description is not intended tolimit the spirit or scope of the invention. It should also be understoodthat the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein aremerely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make anyvariations and modification without departing from the spirit and scopeof the disclosure. All such variations and modifications, includingthose discussed above, are intended to be included within the scope ofthe disclosure.

1-23. (canceled)
 24. A system for providing communications between anappliance and a remote device, the system comprising: a power cordcomprising one or more power wires coupled between the appliance and aplug assembly of the power cord, the power cord further comprising oneor more control wires coupled to the appliance; a sleeve positioned onthe power cord such that the sleeve is positioned between the applianceand the plug assembly; an antenna; and a microprocessor disposed withinthe sleeve, the microprocessor communicatively coupled to the appliancevia the one or more control wires, the microprocessor communicativelycoupled to the remote device via the antenna.
 25. The system of claim24, wherein: the microprocessor is configured to communicate with theappliance using a first communications protocol; and the microprocessoris configured to communicate with the remote device using a secondcommunications protocol that is different than the first communicationsprotocol.
 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the first communicationsprotocol comprises a USB communications protocol.
 27. The system ofclaim 25, wherein the second communications protocol comprises aBluetooth communications protocol or a Wifi communications protocol. 28.The system of claim 24, wherein a portion of the one or more controlwires is disposed in the sleeve.
 29. The system of claim 24, wherein themicroprocessor is configured to provide one or more control signals tothe appliance via the one or more control wires of the power cord, theone or more control signals associated with controlling operation of theappliance.
 30. The system of claim 24, wherein the microprocessor isconfigured to receive one or more signals from the appliance via the oneor more control wires.
 31. The system of claim 24, wherein the antennais disposed within the sleeve.
 32. The system of claim 24, furthercomprising: a power converter coupled between the one or more powerwires and one or more terminals protruding from the plug assembly. 33.The system of claim 32, wherein the power converter is disposed withinthe plug assembly.
 34. The system of claim 24, wherein the one or morecontrol wires are coupled to a communications bus of the appliance.